How to measure curtains

Please always check your measurements using our measuring guides to ensure that the correct sizes are ordered. This is very important as all products are all made to order so we will not be able to accept a cancellation once we have processed your order.

To see our measuring guides please click here.

For curtains and roman blinds we are only able to accept orders in metres. For roman  blinds we ask for measurements in sq feet..

If you need to convert from imperial to metric (or vice versa) please click here.

Curtains fabric guide

Curtain Fabric Guide

Burnout: A technique used on many kinds of fabric but in general is a chemical solution applied to destroy a portion of the fabric, while leaving other areas intact. An example would be burning a floral pattern out of the pile in a velvet piece while leaving the backing fabric intact. Burnout sheers are extremely popular, as they allow light of filter through at various intensities. Calico: Used primarily for simple curtains, this cotton fabric boasts small floral patterns (typically) on a contrasting background. Canvas: A sturdy, plain weave cloth, this cotton or cotton/polyester cloth offers a stiff and tailored, yet casual look. Best for stationary drapery panels. Consider duck or sailcloth (lighter weight canvas) if you require a little bit of draping. Chintz: This cotton cloth offers bright colors, patterns and floral motifs. Consider having this fabric lined if used in a window that receives direct sunlight, as the fabric will weaken and fade over time. Sometimes chintz is finished with a slight glaze to offer a polished look. Was very popular in the 18th century, though is still used frequently today due to its lower cost and bright patterns, for curtains and draperies. Damask: A delicate lightweight cotton fabric best suited for curtains. Small raised dots printed on either side of the fabric are the identifying detail. Most often they are woven into fabric; they can now be found applied to the surface. Dotted Swiss: A delicate lightweight cotton fabric best suited for curtains. Small raised dots printed on either side of the fabric are the identifying detail. Gingham: Usually seen in a plaid or checked pattern, gingham is a plain weave cotton fabric used most often for café curtains and very light draperies such as a kitchen. Typically white with one color accent. Jacquard: Refers to a type of weave more so then a fabric. The jacquard loom was invented in France 1804 by Joseph Jacquard. Brocade, damask and tapestry are some of the fabric manufactured with a jacquard attachment. Lace: A light open work of cotton fabric typically used for sheers or curtains, its delicate mesh background consists of openwork designs. Linen: Stronger and glossier than cotton, linen fibers are obtained from the interior of the woody stem of the flax plant. It is strong but not pliable. It will wrinkle readily and is somewhat stiff. However, it’s tough, textured beauty makes it an interesting look at the window in curtains and drapery form, excellent for sun resistance. Moiré: Meaning watered (French) this silk, rayon, cotton or acetate fabric has a distinctive wavy pattern on the surface that reflects light in the same way light reflects off water. Muslin: For casual curtains and draperies, cotton muslin can be fine to coarsely woven. Typically used a liner fabric, but has been seen as the primary material. Nylon: Perfect for sheers, nylon is durable, washable and inexpensive. Organza (Organdy): This lightweight crisp, sheer cotton fabric is finished with a starch that will wash out. Organza takes a variety of finishes and embellishments including bleaching, dying, and frosting, for curtains and drapes. Satin: With a matte back and a lustrous front, satin is available in many colors, weights and degrees of stiffness. Taffeta: A crisp fabric known best for its wonderful “rustle” sound, taffeta is a lustrous plain weave fabric usually made from synthetic fiber but sometimes made from silk, great for draperies. Tapestry: Heavy and deliciously dense, tapestry is often hand woven and features elaborate motifs such as pictorials, floral and historical scenes. Toile: French for fabric or cloth, toile is best known as Toile de Jouy, a finely printed design resembling a pen and ink drawing. Found primarily on cotton fabric, toile de jouy depicts romantic, idyllic scenes of pastoral countryside’s, floral and historical motifs, great for country curtains and drapes. Velvet: Plain and figured velvets are beautiful and soft, and best employed as drapery fabric. A medium weight cut pile fabric typically constructed of silk, rayon, cotton or synthetics, its high luster and smooth hand create beautiful, graceful folds of fabric. Crease resistant and fairly inexpensive, velvet wears well. Voile: A lightweight sheer fabric, cotton (also wool) voile is plain and loosely woven. Perfect for curtains or drapes, it gathers and drapes well.

How to choose curtain fabric and style

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CURTAIN CALL

How to choose window treatments that are right for you

Photo: From “High Style in Florida,” photography by Roger Davies

As any decorator will tell you, curtains make a room—but only when chosen correctly. When it comes to window treatments, it’s a matter of color and fabric, length and lining, and custom-made versus off-the-shelf. With so many decisions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, so we asked the pros for advice on narrowing down the options and selecting the right curtains for your home.

Color and Fabric
Fabric is an essential part of choosing curtains, since the material will dictate how well your curtains function and hold up over time. “If they’re too heavy, they may not fold crisply when drawn; too light and they may not fall well," says designers. 

Ankita garg and Ashish bansal , who manages Interioz.com  and who works with designers and team , suggests holding fabrics up to a window, even in a fabric showroom. "Pleat it like an accordion at the top and let it drape," she says. "If it starts to flare like a piece of crinoline, then it's not going to fall nicely on the window." Work with a big sample, at least 2 yards, since a smaller piece may not show the fabric’s true drape.

Sunlight will fade fabrics over time. If the room gets a lot of light, it's smart to avoid bright colors, since they tend to fade faster. "Still, if you like to change out your rooms often, you can be less concerned with fading,"They suggests going with neutral colors, since they’re less likely to fade and more likely to blend into a room’s decor.

Linen, silk, faux silk, and velvet are best choices to use for window treatments since they tend to hang the best,  "Faux silk tends to be the most durable," she says. And in a particularly sunny room, faux silk doesn't deteriorate as quickly as real silk.

Some fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use suede, velvet, tapestry, or tweed since their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, nearly any fabric can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material. And interlining—a piece of fabric slipped between the lining and the face fabric—can also help prolong the life of the curtains. "If silk is unlined, it will rot," "Lining and interlining are what give curtains their body and fullness."

Length and Lining
Before you take out the tape measure, decide how high above the window you'd like the curtains to begin. Keep in mind: "Hanging panels higher than the window will give a sense of height to the room," . Designers often hang curtains about six inches above the window frame, but for a dramatic look, some go higher.

Measure from the top of the window (plus the added inches of height where the curtains will hang from) to the floor. For a more traditional look, with the curtain slightly puddled on the floor, you'll want to add another two or three inches to your length. For a modern, crisp look, have the panel fall flush with the floor.

When measuring the width of your window, be sure to add four to eight inches on both sides and double the total number to ensure curtain fullness. "Then you won't block a lot of window glass when the curtains are open, and they won't get in the way," 

If you plan to use the curtains to shut out the sun, those extra inches around the perimeter of your window frame will also help block out any creeping light.